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More blasts in Sri Lanka as Norway mounts new peace bid
Apr.21 (AFP) – Three policemen were killed and three injured in two mine attacks in Sri Lanka Friday, police said, as Norway launched a fresh bid to save the island’s tottering peace process. At least 65 people were killed in the bombings alone while the Tigers said more than a dozen were killed in attacks […]
Sri Lanka’s hospitality industry shows record growth in March
Apr. 20 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s leisure industry greeted record 54,746 visitors in March, as key western countries warned nationals to avoid traveling to the north east of the country as violence intensified in the region. The tsunami-hit island welcomed 54,746 visitors (up 8.6 percent over 2005) in March, which helped swell arrivals for the […]
Quit Notice
Apr.20 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s State Banks & Development Minister Wijedasa Rajapakse Thursday resigned his ministry ending a short stint which was surrounded by rumbles of discontent. “I resigned over personal reasons,” Rajapakse told LBO. Rajapakse, who is a President’s Counsel, also resigned as organizer for the Maharagama electorate of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party […]
‘s hospitality industry shows record growth in March
Apr. 20 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s leisure industry greeted record 54,746 visitors in March, as key western countries warned nationals to avoid traveling to the north east of the country as violence intensified in the region. The tsunami-hit island welcomed 54,746 visitors (up 8.6 percent over 2005) in March, which helped swell arrivals for the […]
Breaking Barriers
DHAKA, Apr.20 (AFP) – The trade ministers of seven South Asian nations said Thursday they had “fruitful” discussions on barriers still impeding a planned regional free trade area.Fruitful discussions were held in a very cordial atmosphere; the implementation of the SAFTA (South Asian Free Trade Agreement) is now our prime task,” Bangladesh Trade Minister Altaf […]
Micro Law
Apr.20 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is drawing up a new law to regulate micro-credit organizations scattered around the county. The legislation will cover thrift units operated by co-operative societies, thrift associations in the Samurdhi income support program of the government and other non- governmental organizations in the sector. “At present no one knows how many […]
RSF calls for retrial of Maldivian journalist jailed for life
Apr.20 (LBO) – The conviction on 19 April of Minivan journalist Abdullah Saeed and his sentence to life imprisonment was engineered by the authorities in order to harm the country’s only opposition newspaper, Reporters Without Borders said Thursday. The international advocacy group for media freedom, called for a new trial by an impartial court and […]
Heavy Cross
MADRID, Apr. 20 (AFP) – Consumers should carry the burden of higher oil prices, International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Rodrigo Rato said in an interview published Thursday by the Spanish daily El Pais. Rato said it would be necessary to “pass on new energy prices to consumers”, and added: “There is a very clear message, […]
High Octane
LONDON, April 20, 2006 (AFP) – World oil prices reached new historic peaks on Thursday, above 74.0 dollars in London and 72.0 dollars in New York, owing to mounting tensions over Iran’s nuclear programme and fears of gasoline shortages in the United States. In London, the price of Brent North Sea crude for June delivery […]
Tigers put off truce talks amid fresh violence
Apr. 20 (AFP) – Tamil Tiger rebels announced Thursday that they were indefinitely postponing peace talks aimed at saving a truce with Colombo as four more people were killed in fresh violence in Sri Lanka.– Amal Jayasinghe The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) told Norwegian peace envoy Jon Hanssen-Bauer that talks scheduled for April […]